The Indonesian government has set the target of national cacao production for 2014 at 1.1 million tons compared to 800 thousand tons last year.

One of the efforts to increase cacao production was to continue the National Cacao Movement (Gernas Kakao) that was launched in 2009, Director General of Plantation at the Agriculture Ministry Gamal Nasir stated here on Monday.

"By launching Gernas Kakao, Indonesia is poised to become the worlds second largest cacao producer," he noted.

Gernas Kakao, which was originally planned to end in 2011, had been extended to 2014. During its three years of implementation, the government disbursed funds worth Rp3 trillion to rehabilitate and intensify 400 thousand hectares of cacao plantation, or 27 percent of the current cacao plantations which reach 1.6 million hectares.

According to Gamal, the production of cacao plantations incorporated in the Gernas Kakao program will be visible four years after it was launched.

The results of a research conducted by an independent team from an institute of higher learning showed that the plantations had the extraordinary potential to produce more cacaos.

"They (the team) have recommended that the Gernas Kakao program be continued this year in view of its impact on the growth of the cacao industry," he stated.

To that end, the government will nurture cacao growers across the country by allocating Rp200 billion by way of funds, he emphasized.

The government has targeted that Indonesia will be worlds top cacao producer by 2020, which could see it book 2 million tons of annual production.

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Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko received the visit of the American ambassador to Indonesia, Joseph R Donovan Jr, at his office in Jakarta on Monday, to discuss a number of bilateral cooperation, including joint military training.

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